The significance of coronary BK channel dysfunction in DM is underscored by the finding that ischemia–reperfusion-mediated myocardial infarction is exacerbated in STZ-induced T1DM mouse hearts and can be reproduced in non-diabetics hearts after exposure to the BK channel specific inhibitor, iberiotoxin (IBTX; Lu et al., 2016). This evidence concerns the gene KCNMA1 and type 1 diabetes mellitus.